Messages

1

General Discussion / Big Bay - run-down or closed? [EDIT: closed]

« on: September 27, 2015, 06:18:09 PM »

I hadn't seen any cars spotted at Big Bay over the past months (to be fair, this may only mean 3-4 visits), and just went on a jog through Goose Island - and Big Bay appears gutted? It looks empty inside and I think walls are missing, there's a dumpster, and no signs of anything I'd consider an active business. I don't want to cry wolf, but it looks pretty desolate. (I just checked old photos on Flickr, and while it looks like it was always a pretty open setup, there was nothing inside today I could see that I wouldn't call "debris")

All the rails on Goose Island look very rusty and there are quite a few weeds on the run-around track just south of the bridge near North Avenue.

Does the Chicago Terminal have any customers left? Is rail service on Goose Island finally over?

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General Discussion / Re: New Article-MILW Local Freight in Glenview + "MILW in Chicago" Being Reprinted

« on: July 16, 2015, 08:27:24 PM »

Do you know when the book will be re-printed?

3

General Discussion / Re: General Mills Closing Rail-Served Plant in West Chicago

« on: July 16, 2015, 08:19:23 PM »

I assume this means the line will be cut back to east of Batavia - it doesn't look like there are any other customers left in West Chicago on the BNSF, unless I'm missing something?

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General Discussion / Re: The End Of Finkl

« on: June 27, 2015, 06:41:24 PM »

Looks like more is underway...

https://www.flickr.com/photos/97011076@N06/17096870999/

Howdy! I wondered why that picture of mine got so many views - glad to see it found its way to these forums.  I took another trip to Finkl Steel today, as well as checking out the Bloomingdale Trail. Pictures are on my stream for those interested.

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General Discussion / Re: C&E / MILW track at 1230 W. School

« on: June 27, 2015, 12:58:17 PM »

Went by the part recently, didn't spot any sign of a railroad tribute (though I didn't have time to go in). Anyone know what became of this plan?

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General Discussion / Re: Move times?

« on: June 27, 2015, 12:34:39 PM »

The last gondola, which had been sitting on this spur for several months at least, moved in the past month or two. It's been empty for a bit now. I used to ride the Armitage bus to work every morning this past winter and would check the site every day. Only caught the CT switching once - they must have gotten an early start that day (it would have been around 9:15 AM).

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Modeling / Re: Morton Salt in HO

« on: January 30, 2015, 07:30:28 PM »

And they took legal action against him?!?!?!
That is odd...

Doesn't look like they actually took any action against him, just an extreme overabundance of caution on his part it looks like.

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General Discussion / Re: Chicago Terminal - Goose Island

« on: December 23, 2013, 11:45:12 AM »

Cool info - thanks for sharing!

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General Discussion / Re: Bloomingdale Line Article in Today's Paper

« on: September 16, 2013, 07:13:19 PM »

I read it too and caught the error when the writer claimed it had been decades since a train last traveled over the Bloomingdale Line.  The last train was in 2001.  I hope they preserve the rails and leave them in place as part of the industrial legacy.  NYC lifted the tracks on most of the High Line.

Was that train connecting to the C&NW to the east or serving an industry?

10

General Discussion / Re: bloomingdale line trail update

« on: June 18, 2013, 05:09:49 PM »

And in the Tribune.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/chi-bloomingdale-trail-marketing-20130617,0,6335196.story

"606" sounds like some kind of beer brand or a time of day.

Once I read the explanation I kinda like it. Kinda.

11

General Discussion / Re: New Google Satellite Imagery

« on: June 11, 2013, 03:51:17 PM »

the Englewood Flyover is now seen for the first time in satellite imagery

I can't spot anything that's obviously part of the under-construction flyover. What should I look for?

The key is to turn off the 45° layer of Google Maps.  That layer always used different imagery, and in this case, it's now older imagery whereas it used to be slightly newer images.  Here's a link: https://maps.google.com/?ll=41.778493,-87.628898&spn=0.002048,0.001558&t=h&z=19, just remember to turn off the 45° layer.

Also present is the construction of the underpass immediately southwest of Toyota Park.

Thank you very much, that did it!

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General Discussion / Re: New Google Satellite Imagery

« on: June 05, 2013, 01:14:52 PM »

the Englewood Flyover is now seen for the first time in satellite imagery

I can't spot anything that's obviously part of the under-construction flyover. What should I look for?

13

General Discussion / DePaul to Finkl?

« on: April 17, 2013, 01:14:03 PM »

From the Tribune:

DePaul University appears to be weighing a site west of Lincoln Park for a Blue Demons men's basketball arena, signaling that a site near McCormick Place is not necessarily its slam-dunk pick.

Bruce Liimatainen, chairman and chief executive of A. Finkl & Sons Co., on Tuesday said DePaul has been in contact with his company in the last two weeks about the possibility of building an arena on 22 acres the steelmaker is vacating as it moves production to the city's South Side.

14

General Discussion / Re: New Engine Spotted at North Ave. Yard

« on: March 18, 2013, 07:28:43 PM »

Just got to make my yearly thanksgiving trek down the city.  The yard was mostly empty but there were 5 UP engines!  Never saw that many before.  Wonder what the reason was.  Any thoughts?

-Matt

Now I'm intrigued. Today I saw six (!!!) engines (UPY 552, 553, 705, 712, 738, and 739) sitting just north of the yard off I-90/94. Is this some sort of light engine move? If so, why were they parked there for several hours? (Saw them at 10 AMish and 2 PMish)

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General Discussion / Re: New Engine Spotted at North Ave. Yard

« on: December 17, 2012, 02:33:23 PM »

There's yet another new engine down there - UPY 550, which I saw idling next to the CT unit on Sunday morning.